Vertigo (1958)

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"Alfred Hitchcock engulfs you in a whirlpool of terror and tension!"

Synopsis

San Francisco police detective Scottie Fergusson develops a fear of heights and is forced to retire when a colleague falls to his death during a chase. An old college friend (Gavin Elster) hires Scottie to watch his wife Madeleine who has reportedly become possessed by her ancestor's spirit named Carlotta. Scottie follows her around San Francisco and is drawn to Madeleine and her obsession with death. He unwittingly becomes a figure in a complex plot, and is determined to discover the truth behind it all. (© IMDB)

Technical Information

• colour (Technicolor)
• sound mix: Mono (Westrex Recording System) and DTS (1996 re-release)
• aspect ratio: 1.85:1 VistaVision
• running time: 128 minutes
• production studio: Paramount Pictures
• also known as:
  • From Among the Dead - working title
  • Illicit Darkening - working title
  • Listen Darkling - working title
  • Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo (1958) - complete title
  • Aus Dem Reich Der Toten (1958) - Germany
  • Sueurs Froides (1958) - France
  • La Donna Che Visse Due Volte (1958) - Italy

Film Download Links

• Amazon - Video on Demand (USA)

Recent Blu-ray Releases

released in 2012

Vertigo (1958) - Universal (Blu-ray, 2012) as part of the box set: Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection - Universal (Blu-ray, 2012)

Recent DVD Releases

• to view all of the DVD releases of this film, see Vertigo (1958) - DVD releases

released in 2008

	Vertigo (1958) - Universal (UK, 2008) PAL
	Vertigo (1958) - Universal (USA, 2008) NTSC

released in 2007

Vertigo (1958) - Universal (UK, 2007) PAL

...view older DVD releases

See Also...

For further relevant information about this film, see also...

• 1000 Frames of Vertigo (1958)
• Articles about Vertigo (1958)
• Awards and Nominations
• Books about Vertigo (1958)
• Complete Cast and Crew
• Documentaries about Vertigo (1958)
• Film scripts
• Filming locations
• Radio adaptations
• Soundtrack albums
• Titles, captions, etc
• Trailers
• Web links to information, articles, reviews, etc

Image Gallery

Images from the Hitchcock Gallery (click to view larger versions or search for all relevant images)...

Film Frames

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Themes

• birds - "Elster" is German for "mockingbird" and Kim Novak wears a pin shaped like a bird on the first trip to San Juan Bautista
• mother - Midge says to Scottie "You're not lost, mother is here."
• multiple personalities - Madeleine/Judy/Carlotta
• the colour green - Madeleine and Judy are first seen wearing green, Madeleine's green car, Scottie's jumper, and the green light from which the transformed Judy appears
• the colour red - Ernie's restaurant, and the dressing gown Madeleine wears
• the cultured baddie - Gavin Elster (Tom Helmore)
• stairs - the stairs in the bell tower, included in the "vertigo" shot
• the double - Madeleine and Judy
• the icy blonde - Madeleine Elster (Kim Novak)
• the mirror reflecting the image of both Madeleine and Judy
• the Hitchcock cameo - walking past the shipyard entrance, carrying a bugle case (more details)
  

Cast and Crew

Directed by:

• Alfred Hitchcock
• Daniel McCauley - assistant director

Starring:

• James Stewart - Detective John "Scottie" Ferguson
• Kim Novak - Madeleine Elster / Judy Barton
• Barbara Bel Geddes - Midge Wood
• Tom Helmore - Gavin Elster
• Henry Jones - Coroner
• Raymond Bailey - Scottie's Doctor
• Ellen Corby - Manager of McKittrick Hotel
• Konstantin Shayne - Pop Leibel
• Lee Patrick - Car owner mistaken for Madeleine

Produced by:

• Alfred Hitchcock
• Herbert Coleman - associate producer

Written by:

• Pierre Boileau - original novel ("D'Entre les Morts")
• Thomas Narcejac - original novel ("D'Entre les Morts")
• Samuel A Taylor
• Alec Coppel

Photographed by:

• Robert Burks

Edited by:

• George Tomasini

Music by:

• Bernard Herrmann

Costume Design by:

• Edith Head

Production Design by:

• Henry Bumstead - art director
• Hal Pereira - art director